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Your Data, Your Choice

By amber.

Have you heard of the Canadian insurance company offering a new mobile app that can judge your driving behaviour and offer you discounts on your premiums?

Well, think twice before you download it, says one privacy lawyer.

The app is free to download on any iPhone or Android device, and as soon as it's installed, it can begin to evaluate your your driving performance.

The privacy lawyer recommends that users have a full understanding of just what kind of information the app will be storing, and how the insurance company plans to keep your data private and secure. Users should also be aware of the length of time the data will be kept.

The lawyer clarifies that although the insurance company is in full compliance with Canada's guidelines and codes for personal data storage and acquisition, users should still think of "the bigger picture".

For more information on this intriguing topic, follow the link below to CTV's website to read their article.

The New Teen Driver Safety System

By amber.

Parents, having your teenager drive for the first time need no longer be such a worry.

General Motors is coming out with new technology geared towards teen drivers.

Their 'Teen Driver' system launched at the New York Auto Show, and 2016 Chevy Malibu's will go on the market with this built-in driving system.

The goal of this new technology is to encourage teens to develop safe driving habits by monitoring trips taken, and then producing a 'report card'. It will include information on maximum speeds, distances driven, and how many times safety systems were engaged during the drive.
The system will also include parental controls, allowing parents to set the maximum speed for the vehicle, which will set off alarms and visual warnings if exceeded.

Despite this useful step in driver safety technology, nothing beats teaching your kids how to drive safely and carefully. In fact, experts agree that basic skills should be acquired before beginning to rely on any technology.

You can learn more about this interesting topic here at CTV News!

Gas Price Hike .... Again

By amber.

Gas prices are expected to jump this week by at least 2.5 cents. 

Apparently, the market is extremely volatile at the moment, and any hike in prices is unlikely to last.

The cause of this shift in pricing is due to the transition from winter to spring. This affects the type of gasoline sold at the pumps, because winter gasoline is cheaper to make than summer gas.

For more information, read this article at CTV News.

The One Person, One Price Song and Dance

By amber.

Have you ever heard of the One Price, One Person sales tactic now being employed by car dealerships?

Basically, this sales tactic is aimed at the savvy consumer who's done their research beforehand, and knows what they want.

Throughout the entire purchasing process, one sales employee handles the whole transaction, from financing to service contracts.

The price posted is the price you pay. With this new trend in auto sales, you don't have to haggle. The sticker price is the final price, it's as simple as that.

All rates for loaning, financing and leasing are up-front and transparent, with no hidden fees or costs, and are completely based on your personal credit score.

The sales team, although on commission, get the same flat fee no matter what kind of car you're buying. That way, pressure tactics and stress for either party is eliminated.

All of these new aspects of selling are designed to make the experience a much more pleasant one for the consumer, allowing them to concentrate on what they really need in a car, versus pricey extras they might otherwise be pushed to purchase.

The question now is, does this new tactic make sense for you, the Canadian buyer?

Read more about this article at the Globe and Mail by clicking the link HERE.

Road Rage No-No

By amber.

On March 17, a driver stuck in traffic in Toronto made a stupid decision.

Their road rage prompted them to try and outwit everyone else on the road, thereby breaking the law.

Watch this video, and feel satisfied knowing that their stupid actions were what got them pulled over by the police car right next to them.

Blinky the Police Car

By amber.

Here's a unique retro find that some of you might remember!:

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It's Blinky the Police Car!
Since the 1950's onward, Blinky the talking police car has educated children about road safety. Blinky was originally a yellow Plymouth Fury, a.k.a. a standard issue Toronto Police vehicle back in the day.
Today's version of Blinky is a 1987 Plymouth Caravelle with facial features such as eyes that move and blink, and a long, pink nose.
Whether or not the car still exists intact is unconfirmed, however the car used to make occasional appearances in parades. Since the car was immobile, it had to be towed behind more modern, functioning vehicles.
Do you remember, or know about, Blinky? Or do you just think he looks really creepy? Let us know below!

Verde Mantis Huracan for sale for $9000

By amber.

Guess what just came up for sale for $9000 CAD? Check out the video below:

This is what the car now looks like:

Lambo Cheap

Would you buy that used Lambo for cheap?

The Globe and Mail reports that the wreck has gone up for sale on the Hungarian classifieds site olx.hu. It needs a loooot of work, to put it mildly.

The Verde Mantis Huracan wiped out on a highway somewhere in Hungary in the video above while speeding at about 320 km/h.

How weird is that?